Bedouin judges have maintained the cultural fabric of the community, ensuring fairness according not only to Islamic law, but also Bedouin traditions.

Lecture from Bedouin Judge

Bedouin judges serve a historic and cultural role as those responsible for conflict resolution between individuals, families, tribes, and communities. They are occasionally called upon to travel to resolve disputes ranging from large to small, as well as design the appropriate solution to satisfy and restore peace between both parties.

Meet our local Bedouin judge in the village, who has travelled as far as Jordan simply to arbitrate disputes despite his relatively young age. He will share about the practice of sulha, or conflict resolution, and the many ways in which this process it has played out throughout his time as a Bedouin judge. He is also willing to share his experience about what types of conflicts he has come across, how they have traditionally been solved in the past and how this process has changed over time, as well as larger conflicts in the past between communities and tribes. Understanding problems ranging from land ownership to internal family disputes are discussions that can provide a unique insight into the complex cultural structure of Bedouin tribes.

As a judge in a region rife with structural inequality, constant infringements on justice and rights, and internal divisions, our local judge can also provide a powerful perspective on resolutions to the present systems of injustice operating in Palestine-Israel. It is also interesting to understand how resolutions to community conflicts can be translated into reconciliation on a potentially much larger scale.